Free music now!

September 29, 2006

Fall can be rough on music. After a summer of free festivals around the city and suburbs, tunes get shoved indoors and shackled with pesky cover charges and exorbitant ticket prices. (Yeah, we're talking to you, Barbra Streisand--$750 a ticket? Come on, Babs!) It's time to take a stand. Go forth and listen to your music as it's meant to be heard: free. We've done all the work for you. Just pick a night, pick a spot and repeat after us: We're here! We're cheap! Get used to it!

SUN

DAVENPORT'S

1383 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-278-1830

Sing along with piano player and Broadway enthusiast George Howe as he belts out show tune after show tune in Davenport's Showtune Sundays. Howe takes requests, the bar serves Broadway-themed cocktail specials and the rest is up to you. Hello, Dolly!

GUNTHER MURPHY'S

1638 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-472-5139

This neighborhood pub recently added Irish singer/songwriter Gareth Woods to its Sunday night lineup. Woods is a native of County Louth, Ireland, but makes his home in Chicago now. He hits the stage around 10 p.m. and pairs nicely with a pint of Gunther's Smithwicks Irish Ale.

MON

EMPTY BOTTLE

1035 N. Western Ave.; 773-276-3600

This gig is popular in indie-rock circles because it showcases top-notch talent and, well, it's free. The lineup changes every week, but typically features three bands starting at 9:30 p.m. and rocking till 2 a.m. This coming Monday offers Japanese "action comic punk" band Peelander Z, Cities and Shopping.

CELTIC KNOT PUBLIC HOUSE

626 Church St., Evanston; 847-864-1679

This multiroomed Irish Pub is easy to find, two blocks from the Purple Line. Monday is Bluegrass Night from 8 p.m. to midnight, with two bands alternating weekly. The Mud Flaps are bluegrass/roots/country; and REO Chuckwagon is traditional bluegrass.

TUES

NEW APARTMENT LOUNGE

504 E. 75th St.; 773-483-7728

In terms of jazz at any price, it's hard to surpass Von Freeman's gig here, which has been going strong for more than a decade. Now in his 80s, "Vonski" is a giant of the tenor sax who has rubbed elbows and traded licks with the best of them, including Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Still, he's humble enough on any given Tuesday to escort jazz newbies onstage and guide them through their first jam sessions.

HIDEOUT

1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; 773-227-4433

Every Tuesday night, Devil in a Woodpile breaks out the washboard, jug, harmonica and clarinet (and that's just singer Rick Sherry) to play the blues with no mics and no amps in these downhome confines. Music starts at 9:30 p.m., but Devil draws a crowd, so you may want to stake out a spot early.

WED

UNDERGROUND WONDER BAR

10 E. Walton St., 312-266-7761

Nearby Rush Street once housed some of Chicago's best jazz clubs, and just a half-block east existed the legendary Universal Recording Studios (home to Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" and Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher "). The funky basement spot features live music nightly until 4 a.m., and no cover before 9 p.m. (Mondays- Thursdays) or 8 p.m. (Fridays- Sundays). Owner and pianist/songwriter Lonie Walker provides the entertainment on many a night.

SMOKE DADDY

1804 W. Division St.; 773-772-6656

Come for the barbecue turkey, stay for the jazz and blues. Local and touring acts take the small stage at the front of the dining room at 9:30 p.m. every night . To get a table at this Wicker Park joint, you have to eat or have a drink, but the Smoke Daddy kitchen makes that a fair deal, indeed.

THURS

THE HEARTLAND CAFE

7000 N. Glenwood Ave.; 773-465-8005

Thursday nights feature the Long Gone Lonesome Boys. There's no cover for this country and western band, an arrangement that has worked to everyone's liking for the last few months and is expected to continue. Check the event calendar at www.heartlandcafe.com for other free nights; this place is also known for poetry readings.

MCNALLY'S TRADITIONAL IRISH PUB

122 S. York Rd., Elmhurst; 630-941-7100

McNally's looks as if it parachuted in from County Cork (as opposed to, say, Cook County). Besides playing host to karaoke (Wednesdays) and trivia quiz nights (Tuesdays), the club hosts acoustic duo Chris & Jim every other Thursday (including this week), starting at 9 p.m.

FRI

UNCOMMON GROUND

3800 N. Clark St.; 773-929-3680

This Wrigleyville spot has gotten too big to be called a coffeeshop anymore, but it's long been a top choice for free music. The bands tend toward folk--11 p.m. Friday is the time to catch Irish/New York folk rocker Mark Geary ("Ghosts," 2005). No cover, just a tip bucket you're encouraged to use. And a new wrinkle: The music room seats 30 and fills up fast these days; reservations are encouraged but carry a $15 food/drink minimum.

BUNGALOW JOE'S

7406 Jensen Blvd., Hanover Park; 630-830-8899

This we like: Not only does Bungalow Joe's feature a range of live music options on Fridays that include blues, ska and alternative rock, there's also a complimentary buffet from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

SAT

LEE'S UNLEADED BLUES

7401 S. South Chicago Ave.; 773-493-3477

"I make everybody feel at home," says owner Stanley Davis. "We baptize you in the blues." Doors open at 8 p.m., musicians rev up at 10 p.m. and the music's free. But be warned: This juke-joint club only seats 80, so get to your baptism early. By the way, the person next to you at the bar might just be a local blues luminary ready to hop on stage.Lee's has been home to the likes of Little Al Thomas, the Junkyard Dog and Gaylord the Arkansas Belly Roller. No wonder Mick Jagger has haunted the place on occasion.

115 BOURBON STREET

3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park; 708-388-8881

Get here before 8 p.m. for free music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. After 8, $5 gets you into three rooms of entertainment, with a deejay in the nightclub, local bands in the sports room and another band in the performance hall.